Adam Larson

Tenor Saxophone

(309) 451-0015/(309)531-2135

adam @adamlarsonjazz.com  

2007-2008 School Year – (Current)

·          Performance on Jimmy Lyons stage, 2007 Monterey Jazz festival

·          Performance at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Sweet Rhythm. New York City with Monterey Next Generation Jazz Orchestra

·          Knox-Galesburg Symphony Orchestra – Guest artist/Pops Concert

·          IMEA District Jazz Fest IAJE Outstanding Musician Award

·          1^st Tenor Sax, Jazz Band I – IMEA District III Jazz Festival

·          Director, Normal Community High School Jazz Ensemble II

·          Lead Alto/featured soloist, Central Illinois “Jazz Train” Orchestra  (regional professional big band)

2006-2007 School Year

·          Selected for 1^st Tenor in 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival “Next Generation” Jazz Orchestra

·          Selected as a member of the 2007 Inaugural Honor Jazz Band of America (Bands Of America/Music For All Foundation) – Ron McCurdy, Director

·          Invited to the 2007 Steans Institute, Ravinia Summer Jazz Workshop (Chicago, IL) by Dr. David N. Baker

·          Finalist for the 2007 Gibson/Baldwin Grammy Jazz Ensemble

·          Member of the 2007 Illinois All-State Honors Jazz Combo

·          Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA) All-State Secondary/General Music Composition Contest, 1^st place Winner – Jazz Improvisation Category

·          Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA) All-State Secondary/General Music Composition Contest, 1^st place Winner – Composition Category

·          Illinois High School Association Solo & Ensemble Contest – Division I/Superior rating (perfect score), Best Of The Day Award

·          1^st Tenor saxophonist/Clarinet and section leader, University High School Jazz Ensemble I

·          Member and Featured Soloist with the Illinois State University Jazz Ensemble I, Dr. Tom Marko, Director

·          Principal Alto Saxophonist with the 2007  Illinois State University  Honor High School Wind Ensemble, Dr. Steve Steele/Dr. Daniel Belongia, conductors.

·          Studied Applied Saxophone under Mr. James Boitos, Illinois State University, Normal, IL

·          1st Tenor Saxophonist and Featured Soloist with Illinois Central College “Jazz Train” Orchestra, Mr. Larry Harms, director

·          Guest Artist with the Knox College-Galesburg, IL Symphony Orchestra (Pops/Jazz concert)

Summer 2006

·          Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop- David N. Baker, director

·          William Patterson Summer Jazz Workshop- Jim McNeely, director

·          Featured performer at the 2006 Iowa City Jazz Festival

2005-2006 School Year

·          Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA) All-State Secondary/General Music Composition Contest, 1^st place Winner – Jazz Improvisation Category

·          Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA) District 3 Jazz Festival, Band I – Featured Tenor Saxophone Soloist

·          IAJE Outstanding Soloist Award – (IMEA) District 3 Jazz Festival, Illinois Wesleyan University

·          Principal Alto Saxophonist, University High School Concert Band

·          Lead Alto Saxophone, U-High Jazz Ensemble I

·          IAJE Outstanding Soloist Award – Illinois State University Jazz Festival

·          Illinois High School Association Solo & Ensemble Contest – Division I/Superior rating (perfect score), Best Of The Day Award

·          Studied Applied Saxophone under Mr. James Boitos, Illinois State University, Normal, IL

·          1st Tenor Saxophonist and Featured Soloist with Illinois Central College “Jazz Train” Orchestra, Mr. Larry Harms, director

Summer 2005

·          1^st Tenor Saxophone, Lab Band (top group by audition) Birch Creek Fine Arts Camp, Egg Harbor, WI – recipient of Most Outstanding Wind Player of the session - Clay Jenkins, Combo Director, Jim Kull, Lab Band Director, Jeff Campbell, Camp Director

·          Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz workshops, Louisville, KY – Rufus Reid, Combo Director

·          1st  Tenor Saxophone, and featured soloist, Bands Of America 2005 Summer Symposium (Jazz Track) – Ron McCurdy, Director

·          Performed with Internationally recognized jazz drummer Matt Wilson as part of “Arts & Crafts” band

2004-2005 School Year

·          Principal Alto Saxophonist, University High School Concert Band

·          1st Tenor Saxophone, U-High Jazz Ensemble I

·          Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA) District 3 Jazz Festival – Featured Soloist

·          IAJE Outstanding Soloist Award – Illinois Wesleyan University Jazz Festival

·          Outstanding Jazz Soloist Award – Pekin High School Jazz Festival

·          IMEA All-State Secondary/General Music Composition Contest Finalist – Jazz Improvisation Category

·          Illinois High School Association Solo Contest – Division I/Superior rating

Summer 2004

·          Birch Creek Academy Jazz I session – Lab Band, featured Soloist, Outstanding Performer Award – Jim Warrick, Lab Band Director

Community/Professional Ensemble Membership

Adam Larson Trio 

Adam Larson Quartet

Adam Larson "Not-So-Big Band"

Adam Larson "Groove" Ensemble

Matt Wilson's Arts & Crafts - Rootabaga Jazz Festival, Knox College

Illinois Central College "Jazz Train" Jazz Orchestra

Central Illinois Jazz Society House Band

State Farm Employees Activities Association Big Band

Cental Illinois Jazz Orchestra - (guest performer)

CD Releases

Crossover- 2006 

Songs For My Grandfather - 2004

Sketches Of Christmas - 2003

Straight Ahead - 2003

Venues

Swinger's Grille- Bloomington, IL

The Entourage Lounge- Bloomington, IL 

The Redfire Grille- Bloomington, IL 

Border's- Normal, IL 

The House of Blues- Chicago, IL 

Clowes Memorial Hall- Indianapolis, IN 

The Loft- Bloomington, IL

Bloomington Country Club- Bloomington, IL 

The Castle Theatre- Bloomington, IL 

Orpheum Theatre - Galesburg, IL

Rootabaga Jazz Festival - Guest Artist with Matt Wilson's, "Arts & Crafts"

ViV Wine Bar - Bloomington, IL

Fat Jack's - Bloomington, IL

CEFCU Riverfront Stage, Peoria, IL - part of the Thursday Summer Jazz Concert Series

Westbrook Auditorium, Illinois Wesleyan University

Kankakee County Club  - Arts Council Annual Banquet

"Coffee With Einstein" New Orleans Coffeehouse and Bistro, Lincoln, IL

"Newsroom Bistro", Toulon, IL with Dave Hoffman

"The Pines" supper club, Streator, IL

"Crestwicke Country Club" - Club Parties and private functions

"Central Illinois Jazz Society"

Corporate/Organizational Social Functions - The Prenzler Group, 1st Midwest Bank, Calvary United Methodist Church, Bloomington Young Men's Club, McLean County Community Action Agency Annual Awards Banquet, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Kankakee Area Community Arts Council, Wayman AME Baptist Church Bishops Conference, State Farm Holiday Christmas Program, McLean County Indian Society Tsunami Fundraiser, Mortgage Services Grand Opening

Wedding Receptions, Chateau, Bloomington, IL; Bloomington Country Club, Eastland Suites, Radisson, Bloomington, IL, Crestwicke Country Club, Bloomington, IL